Sinker-actuating means for revoluble-cylinder knitting-machines.



J.`D.HEMPH1LL.' vSINKER AGTUATING MEANS FOR REVOLUBLB GYL'INDERKNTTINGMAGHINES,

APr'LloATloN FILM) P991, 1997V RENEW@ MAB.. 16, 1909.

Panam 9911.93, 1912.

l SHEETS-SHEET l.

, l J. D. HEMPHlLL.

SINKER ACTU/mms MEANS PQR RBVOLUBLE CYLINDER KNITTING MAGHINBS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. l, 1907. RBNEWBD MAR. 16, 1909.

Patented Jan. 23, '1912.l

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. D. HBMPHILL. 51mm ACTUATING 'MEANS PoR REVOLUBLB CYLINDER KNITTINGMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l, 1907. RENEWED'MAB..16, 4190). 1,915,733,Patented 111.23, 1912.

4 S1EETSSHEET f1.

/NVEN mm,

'n etienne onmon Jesnm n.l HEMPHELL, OF CENTRAL FALLS, BHDE ISLAND.

SINKERACTBLTING MEANS FQRvREVOLUBLE-CYQINDER KNItTTINGSMELCHINES.

imams.

Specition of Letters 'atent. i Patented Jan, 23,1912,- Originailappleationtled Merch 2G, 190, Serial No. $05.106. i

1'9( )7,`S rial No. 355,23. lRenewedIttarch 16. 1909.

A Divided-and this 'application ted February l,

'serial No. 483,856.,

To all uhoin. it may concern: v Bo it. known that l. .los'nta l). Him?-.-Xmevriczn--sind a rendent. of (fcntl-al Fallsfp: in the 'cotnjity of.,Providence and Rhode Island, have invented certain new l .ating'lileans, Sie., 'fof evolnlileg'Qvliniler 'KnittingAMacliiiles, of, which,tlietollowing is a `spe'iiioation. ln a depend-ing 'applicationforpotent. .fil'edf by'1 nic in `tile-limited States "aient .OfficeSerial 'ilnmber508,10, have showin.j lulandA ilescribed ail-organizedcircular knittingeniachim foi'-'fautomatically producing toinip'ro-venients in the s'inkers and` `coijv related` part-SL ,and`r itconsists ,essentiall'v in f y'el consti-li(ation,l arrangement/5 and-f-Aneansjfor actuatingr said members, all nore fnllyzliereinaftei'deecriliiil angl cla imoil. `lie I. hii'vei in view is to provide'knitting-maoliinesv of the ciik'nlaij type' n'itli -meiins foraiitomatrally moving the Ainkel-s linto-fandout of act-ion with relationto the@v needles. l further. object-the [invention is, to

,eilccessi-teli' 'advancing and x'etauting flto 1siinkere as 'in .normalltnittingn and means `operatively conlweteil 'with the Sinkel-s for 4iiiiltanoonely remit-ring; tlicni inoperative. rA fuitl-wxf objectVotVtlie inventionis to' provide lni'tt i n f-innczinns with means forvporarily inopinative in advance of the topping operation., 'Bymeans ofthis invention the :1ct-0f lifting the latch-ying, sowfzllled, afterstop- ",ping the machine :is atthe completion of l n 'stocking'.operatesthrough interveningr devices to autoinnticully mov'e'the-coire--y .,.sfponding shaker-e out of the normal working position, all thesinken; then lying. 1n a, lsubstantially .true-'cireulaij path and beingin- 4opeljntive.l -N owl npon'a 'piying the trims- `fer-x'ingtotheneedle-cy inder plepgl-ratory tothe topping operation the points of'sui'xl ring readily position themselves n tI the remi otA .therespective needles.` f While the Lsu`ilwis`,&c., are in this positionthe cylinder with the tranSfer-ing thereon' may be read- State ofsectional View,

.jacent parts. Fig. sponding. plan View. 'f plan View ofV tlie'jcaping;showing fthe sinker-canr, &c., when in thenornfilfoperifis a transverseSecovide `knitting-inwinnen "iilinicans for l l qtnitoil description ofthe novelfentuies thc invention that `111theantomit1c-Stockingilyjrotatetl at `will in eitliei' direction iy the j attendant withoutlialiilityof'injury t'o the transfer-points by the sinlers;fthis featurel consider of' especial practical value.

inthe foin'4 accompanying sheets of drawinge, Figure 1 represents, infront eleyatiom v, and. neefnl improvements in thnker-ctni inacliinehaving a rcvoinble needleeylinder :ind embodying inyl presentAinvention, the

. yarn-liolding bobbins and's'upports'theefor beingmitted- Fig, l2represents a-'ve'frtical in enlarged. scale;` taken through the centerof the cylinderfad'd- 3 represents e Vcoxjre- Fig.`v 1 is .av part'i'latixje position.' Fig., tion `taken tliruglntlie"upper partfof''tlie }nnina'lly inoperatiye 'position' of the s inkers.`

ligxf-i a' octional view 'similu:to"*Fig:` but. showing thewedge-pin"fwitlidiawn `and the sinker-cmn 4with its".sinkelrsnd-Af'vanced to tlie inoperative positimniidfFigL 8 is im enit View 'off-theyarn-cliangin -cnm Mr.; xn reduced-Scale; 1'-

l.: would `state in ladvance' 'of a fino mechanically revo] uble.,. Theypettei'nfhtiin B, as Well :is-thc wheels, &c.". mounted on the main orcam-shaft 31, are adapted tobe 1ntermi ttingly-L rotated at predebermined1in-v4 y by meuns'of tervals and in one direction onl`controllingmechanismnpcratively connectincreased rate" of Speed Whilefplwhile being actuatedtip; rotary-reciprocating manner durin'gtheformationandi prduction of the heetand toe=po1ftions-of the stocking.

The power used for'lrunninethe machine is ,transmitted through or by a,"lt .ptravel ing such that when the 'belbis' ing in one directiononlyyandfot msuhst'anf tially uniform speed; thefarrangement be.

fted onto .LQ

p2. ItV may be added that the driving-sha t s has amiter-g'eariii-secured to its inner end intergearing with a fellow gear n securedto the lower end of the cylinder N 1 vthereby correspondingly rotatingthe latter.

The frame or housing a of the machine i `and supported by legs a1 isdesigned 'to in'- ,15 needle-cylinder and other members support` ed bythetop or tablea2 of the frame.

Aclose Vpractically all or' at least the major portion' et the workinglparts except the The needle-cylinder N, see-Fig. 2, is tubular,its'periphery being provided with uni formly spaced longitudinal groovesfor guidi ing the moyable' etch-needles 1 2 mounted' The;needle-cylindenas drawn, is pritY atthe top with a. fixed' inner rinmember oz having radial grooves formed in "fits upper'and lower portionsand. alternating with said yneedle-supporting grooves formed fin 'thc'cylinder. proper.. The outer edgezgf the .ring projects above but doesnot,

i l howeveigextend 'laterally beyond the bottom A' 2of. tl'refsaid'cylinder-grooves. A laterally extending flange '11,termedthe'sinker-ring,

l-tlalnciidesthe upper cuter part of and extends ashortdistaneef aboy'ethe cylinder barrel, thev same having radial grooves registering;withthose.o fV said ring o1 and in which are .e'ndwise movable sinkeis0, the function of seatedaiid supportedthe thin horizontal fthe latter.being in general substantially the same as 'thatof sinkers as usuallyemployed.

.The innerjwall of the sinker-ring is cut awaysoasftosjormgacontinuously open en.-

:large'd annular'elearanee-space o 2 between Vit und the adjacent outersurfaces of the wall ofthe. cylinder for theffrce escape of lint,

i &c. .The ring is rigidly secured to the cylinder by meansof screws,all as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The sinker-carrying ring portionof the revoluble needle-cylinder is =s u rmounted by a recessedstationary cap- I Bearing G;.the latter being supported by said member nand held in the horizontal posi.-

` .i tionagainst rotation by suitable means con- .neeted therewith andwith the standa rd n1 in which latter is pivoted the latch-ring C.' SecFigf. The under side of the cap-ringis provid'edwitha fixed eamo', F ig.4, and

ermee-.nitric groove o yin operati-ve iiguigref4 yment with the outerend portion of the said supportedsinkers, twhereby the latter -are rc.-ciprocated in their. seats, .while atthe same time being carriedbodily.around an'dji'nactively in said concentric groove' o* by therevolving cylinder. The ringG, see Figs. 2 4 and 5,V is further providedwith a suitably mounted normally stationary horizontal cam w, alsolocated iii the path of the sinkers and at the usual knitting orstitch-forming portion. The construction and employment of thelast-named cam is' novel: It extends through .the side of the cap-ring.and terminates in a bent arm lw2 arranged to form a space or opening ofbetweenit and the adjacent peripheralsuriace of the ring, thearrangement being such that a downwardly extendingidog or finger w1fixed to the .under .side of the latch-ring member and |posi 'tioned insaid opening maintains the-cam in .thenormal retracted or operativeposition to properlyactnate the sinkers in a successive. manner. vthe'com lotion ofthe werk, the a'et of lifting the atcb-ring withdrawssaid fingen lw1 from the cam, a push-spring 0T at the simietimeautomatically advancing the latter inwaijdly to. -its limit thustemporarily and si'- multaneously moving the. corresponding sinkersthereon out of the normal-working Aosition, see-Figi. 7, all fthesinkers then registering orlying in the circular path and beinginoperative. ally means of this device the points of the transfer-ringreadily position themselves. back of the respective needles when theIoperator applies it to the cylinder preparatory .tn the topping opliponstopping the machine, as at 85 i .iii

so l

eration. `After the .topping .process has .beenl effectedV the actoffreturning the latch-ring to the normal position reintroduees the'said finger'w1 into the open space o andniitomatically forces thelc'iiinfw and the sinkcrs thereon back to the operative position ini-105iy inediately preceding the resumption of knitting. See Figs. 4 andA5.

The following describes' hieans for feeding the`yarn i/ tothe needlesafter it is con'- dueteil from any suitable supply or source.

to and threaded into the eye ai vot the guide YZF: To the'shaft. s1secured u. drum f hav-' ing, as drawn', Figs. Vl aiid 8) a plurality of:interrupted peripheral mini-ribs f'-,oach hav-- ing;r the front. end ofa' swingiiig lever f ln sliding' fiictional contact therewith. 'lhe rearend of the lever il; attached to an ilpwai'dly extending connection f,of wirr.

which in turn is hooked intollhe reni-'end f of a swinging horizontallyarranged fellow,

lover or linger ff' mounted to swing iii the upper end of and iiiolosedin the hollow standard l( secured lo the top plate or talile (1.2.- Seealso Figs; 2 and 3.' 'The other poi'- 'tion'of said yarnfccdingmeans isattached to'and 'inoifalilc with the .swingingr lalchring '(1,the-latter having a horizontaldoohlcarm or Vedciision' (13T in'n.lincliienl.. with the cenicioi` vthe needle-cylindor. ln (lic 'freefend .ot said arii'i are pii'ol'cd, ai" Il. flic lhrco 35.15111 uwinnig. e. r

' yarn will' then befrojected inwardly pestV resting upon and supportedby the free ends lof rthe respective levers f5. A spring d maintainseach .pair of members, all and f5, innormal contact. The outer end ofsaid 5 extension d3 is adapted to rest upon said support K thereby Aatthe seme time positioning the ring C. The inner or free end ofeach'ofsaid guides d* is drilled at d* to receive the knitting-)remandis located-con# 16 tiguousto the upper end of the needles, the

"- arrangement being suchv'that wlieirthe ring C is-dropped to itsnormal. level position,

the cylinder then being in action or revolv.

ing, the members #and d1 will then be in 415 the normal depressed.position, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2,- wliereby the feed 4yarn(not shown) is properly vintroduced into the then open hooks oftheneedles preyparatory to being inclosed therein and 2 0 knitted, into thefabric as they (the needles) are successively depressed by members Aofthe cam-block D, in a, Well-known manner. It may -be added that saidlevers, 8vo., are 4depressed only when' the free end of the corizia-responding -lever f3 has dropped from the' thebaclc of 'the nee lesand out of action..

Itis deemedunnecessary to this specifico! i z tion tol describe indetail speed-changinghnd 4oneedle-actuating `devices 6m., as means .forsuch purposes are well-lmown. It may be stated, however, that 'suitablyconstructed and actuated nerrowinglpicks R and widening-picks T areindicated' in Figs. 1 and 3,

the' functions of-which also novell-known. The following-is anabridgeddescription vof the general' operation of a stockingknitting-machine embodying my improvements,v the machine being adaptedsay for the pro` 5o duction-of half hose: Afterlifting the latchring'C(the machine then being temporarily stopped) 'together withtheyarn-gu1des and piniol connected therewith the spring o7 =-'1nstuntlyacts'to move the cam w and its sinkers toward the center thusplacingsthe sinkers .in the inofmntivc position; at substantially thesome time the attendant presses downwardly the few needles thenremaining elevated :it the knitti point to so the level ofthe; otherneedles, fo iowed by placing the"trensier-ring; with thelstitches orloops of t-he previously knitted top mountedas usual o n its' groovedpoints or ."quillsin the proper position on the u e5 per end/o1 'of-themecdlecylinden the said points .then registering with the respectiveneedles. Immediately thereafter the ut,- tendanlt revolves the cylinder&c., one complete turn by hand thereby through the melium of suitziblecoms, &c., moving :ill the needles, upwardly a. sho t vdistance' intothe .trnnsfer-rin'gs fpoints, .ollbwed by simultaneously pulling ftheAtop downwardly 4 and-removingthe ring. Thel result of this action is toslide .till the stitches down`o\ er the needles und to open anyclosedlatches,l -allthe lotter then being open and in contactA with therespective loops of the top. The i y operatr nentv swings the latch-ringdownwardly toits normal or level-position thereby Carrying with ittheyarn-guides d1; the

latter, assuming tlie'several members f, f, I

f, f and j'r to bc properly arranged and ed# justed, dropping to thedotted line osition shown in Fig.` 2 to successively intro uce the yarninto thc then open hooks of theneedles upon starting the machine. 4Thelatch-ring es,v

Vin its' movement automatically introduces the wedge-pin w1 intothe eace o? `thus forcing .the cam vw ,outwardly -rom the :con-

A centric or inoperative position to thenorm'zil working' position, theconi-fut '.the "sume time i I' carrying Withfitftheseveralts1nkersthereon utor contiguous ft'tliis "part ofthe mchine th'et thelstitchesfoxjeaformed. `Now upon thereby automaticallyshftingthedrivingbelt fromth'efi'dle pulley pzpast pulley. p1'

and onto the quick-speed pulley.A p thereby y starting the machine. Thecoperationo the now'revolving'cylinderp ,the sinkers o, the y Lthe yarnintomew loops or 'stitches and'knit-I ting them into the loops of thetop.?`and immediateiy thereafter castingthem off from thel -top of theneedles i'n the usual manner top o'r web revolving with the cylinder.

A 'det-ailddescription of the 4manner of forming the heel-and ltoe'pockets 1ofifthe' 'stocking' maybe found inmy seid com! genionjapplictiomNo. 308,106, pptented 1 tember 7', y1,9()9LN0.` 933,443. Themchomsm is so 'armi positioned and tiined that the yarn-gui e d1 ishutomatically ele.

voted .(by means. 'of Vsaid members f, f2, f, f and f5) thereby lacing.the knittingyarn, or yarns, out o knittmg action with.

respect to the hooksv of the needles. The

continued one `or tworrevelutions of the cylindor, &c., operates tn,sucoessively elevate the latches thenbeing closed) into the ineedleswhen the latch-ring is dropped to its normal position.

9. In a knltt-ing-machine of the characterv described provided Awith aneedle-cylinder having a sinker-ring Secured thereto and needles andsinkers movably mounted in said cylinder and ringv members, a cap-ringlooatedeontiguous to andconcentric with the lsinker-rmg; a normallystationary sinker-cam tw arranged transversely of and slidable in--thecap-ring for imparting end- Wise movement to the traveling sinkers, andmeans to #automatically advance the cam from the operative to theinoperative 15 position.

' 10. an automatic stocking-knitting-maf chine provided with a knittingcylinder and independently movable needles and sinkers a suitablymounted bodily movable sinken oamyfor normally changing the position011.20 the sinkers thereon with respect to `the needles, means formoving .the cam from `its norma-l position to render itssinkers temporarily inoperative during the topping operation, and means for returningthe cam and its sinkersto the normal working position. Signed atProvidence, R. I., this 30th day of January, 1907.

` JOSHUA D. HEMPHILL.

Witnesses:

GEO. `H. REMINGTON,

CALVIN H. BROWN.

